Ongoing work to improve and expand Penn State's HUB-Robeson Center, which began in June, will continue through the end of 2014, with interior renovations expected to conclude in summer 2015. The construction project will incorporate several new options for students, faculty, staff and visitors to enjoy a wider range of multipurpose space, including enhanced dining and service areas.

Faculty and staff at University Park are an integral part to Penn State's success. Their contributions will be recognized at Faculty & Staff Appreciation Days, an annual event that gives full-time Penn State employees an opportunity to enjoy prizes, discounts, snacks, music and more. With an official VIP Passport, which will arrive in Penn State mailboxes, employees can journey through the HUB-Robeson Center and enjoy the festivities. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 14 and 15, attendees can visit each participating location to enjoy specials and games, and to have their VIP Passport stamped.

A new exhibit will offer a look at singer Kathy Mattea's upcoming celebration of Appalachian folk music and culture as well as Pennsylvania's coal history through December at the HUB-Robeson Galleries on Penn State's University Park campus. The exhibition, located in the display case on the first floor next to Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center, previews a performance and residency with two-time Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Kathy Mattea as she makes her Center for the Performing Arts debut in a concert focused on music from her September album, "Calling Me Home."

Mattea will perform "Calling Me Home" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 in Eisenhower Auditorium. Tickets are available by phone at 814-863-0255 or at www.cpa.psu.edu. Mattea also is scheduled to speak at the Penn State Forum at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 31 in President's Hall at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Tickets are required. For more information, go to www.pennstateforum.psu.edu.

Pennsylvania officials will hold a news conference Sept. 26 at Penn State to remind young voters about the importance of casting their ballots and to explain Pennsylvania's new voter identification law, which goes into effect with November's election. A forum titled "Why Vote?" is scheduled for later that evening in the HUB-Robeson Cultural Center, featuring speakers Jay Paterno, Coquese Washington and Professor John Gastil, and will be streamed on the web at http://wpsu.org/live online.

Carol Aichele, secretary of the Commonwealth Department of State, is scheduled to talk about the law at 10:30 a.m. on the first floor of the HUB, just outside the id+ office on the University Park campus. She also plans to urge Pennsylvania's youngest voters to take advantage of their opportunity to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

The HUB-Robeson Galleries will showcase Stephen Althouse's photographs in the Robeson Gallery from Feb. 14 to April 22. Althouse's photographs feature cryptic assemblages of found and fabricated objects that relate to significant life events. Althouse captures both positive and negative attributes of humankind with an emphasis on human experiences and interactions. Each image contains unique metaphors laced with visual autobiographical narrative themes.

Penn State faculty and staff will be getting some extra attention this November. In recognition for their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm in making Penn State a great university, employees are being honored as a part of Faculty and Staff Appreciation Days on Nov. 2 and 3.

Flags from all over the world lined the entrance of Alumni Hall welcoming students to the third annual Paul Robeson World Cultural Festival, held Friday, Sept. 12, on Penn State's University Park campus. The event featured food, music, crafts, belly dancing and other performances. Free goodie bags provided by the Paul Robeson Center were a big hit with all. For photos from the event, check Penn State Live at http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/1818 online.

Hundreds of people rush through the HUB-Robeson Center food court every day, but on Tuesday (April 29) the lunchtime hustle and bustle came to a sudden halt as about 30 people froze in place for five minutes in a flash-mob group performance by "Undercover Improv." Sophomore Mike Kaiserian created the group in the spirit of "Improv Everywhere," a New York City group whose stated mission is to create "organized fun." "I decided to do this after watching the 'Grand Central Freeze' video on YouTube, in which over 200 people in a group called Improv Everywhere froze in place in Grand Central Station for five minutes," Kaiserian said. "I've always wanted to be able to participate in something like that, and it seemed like the only way to do that would be to organize it myself. I talked to a few friends about it, they said that they would participate, and it went from there." Entertainment and fun are the only agendas for the group. "I want to make it clear that we're not trying to make a point," Kaiserian said. "We're not an advocacy organization trying to call attention to an issue. We're not trying to in any way inconvenience people. We're really just trying to have a good time. Because really, who wouldn't want to be in a flash mob? And is there anything more fun than seeing huge numbers of people totally confused?"

The Block and Bridle Club's annual "Beef Up the Blood Supply" blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, in the Alumni Hall of the HUB-Robeson Center. Each presenting donor will receive a hamburger and other refreshments along with a free T-shirt. To schedule an appointment to donate, go to http://www.psuredcross.org/ and select the blood drive on April 30 in Alumni Hall. For information, contact Jenny Rassler at jrr290@psu.edu.